Pages

23 Jul 2015

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger not ready to retire

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is not ready to retire because the thought of ending his managerial career sends him into a panic.

Wenger moved to north London in 1996 and became the long-serving manager in the Premier League when Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Arsenal’s eight-year trophy doubt ended with their FA Cup victory in 2014 and they defeated Aston Villa to claim back-to-back victories in May.

Wenger is targeting a title challenge this term and insists he has not even thought about calling time on his managerial career.

“Retirement? Yes, it crosses my mind sometimes but for no longer than five seconds because I panic a little bit,” he told reporters. “When we played at Man United, [Ferguson] came to meet me after the game. I said: ‘Come on, you don’t miss it?’ He says: ‘No.’ He had enough. He goes to every game but he has horses. I have no horses. “Enthusiasm is not a problem, honestly. I am more committed than ever for that. I just think the number of times you have done it doesn’t count. It is how much you love what you do that counts. “And the love of what you do is not necessarily diminished by the number of times you’ve done it. Football is new every day. That’s a big quality. It makes you question. “With every defeat people say: ‘What is this guy doing?’ Every three days you are questioned. You have an exam every three days. You have no way to look back. You have to prepare the next exam and come out of it with success. So it always demands 100 per cent commitment. “I want to do well for the club and, as well, when I leave one day, leave the club in a position where the club can go on and on.”